Pro lacrosse star Wes Berg and the creative team at MSN Lazer recently teamed up to release the first lacrosse NFT collection. The collection commemorates Berg’s 2015 NCAA Championship run at University of Denver.

Not familiar with NFTs yet? No problem!

To put it simply, this collection of digital art from Wes Berg and MSN Lazer has been minted on the blockchain in limited supply. Each item has its own unique identifier that guarantees its authenticity.

It’s no surprise that Berg, who plays for San Diego Seals in the National Lacrosse League, would be the first pro lacrosse player to make a move with crytpo and, more specifically, non-fungible tokens.

The owner of the Seals is Joe Tsai, also owner of the Brooklyn Nets and a member of the NBA’s blockchain advisory committee. It’s safe to bet that Berg has soaked up some knowledge during his time in San Diego!

Explore the first lacrosse NFT collection below and let us know what you think!

WES BERG’S NCAA Championship

FIRST LACROSSE NFT

’15 NCAA Champion Shot Card

’15 NCAA Champion Hero Card

’15 NCAA Champion CAPSULE

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Lacrosse events across the world were cancelled in 2020 in the wake of the pandemic, marking the first summer that many of us “lifetime players” went lacrosse-less for years, if not decades. There’s no time like the present to add these top 20 lacrosse destinations for adult lacrosse to your bucket list!

Folks like PrimeTime Lacrosse are prepared to take care of us in 2021 as we plan to get back on the field or in the box, so we greatly appreciate their support in helping us make the following list. We factored in each destination’s great histories, incredible locations and competition levels when creating it.

Top 20 Lacrosse Destinations in the World

Prague

Radotin, a suburb of Prague, is home to the biggest and most revered international box lacrosse events in the world: the Ales Hrebesky Memorial and Frank Menschner Cup.

Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and these tournaments are held just outside of the center of the city. During the events, the box turns into a constant party of joyous laxers enjoying their company, food and drinks. The trip back into the city is as easy as hopping on a train located a minute’s walk from the box, and the opportunities for adventure in Prague are endless.

Lake Placid

Lake Placid is nestled comfortably among the Adirondack Mountains and is one of the most scenic places in the United States. No matter what event you’re going for, the breathtaking views and opportunities for outdoor activities only add to the necessity for a trip to one of the top 20 lacrosse destinations there is.

Carrier Dome

This is one of the best-known venues in all of college sports, let alone in lacrosse. But it’s importance in lax cannot be overstated. Syracuse is one of the most storied programs there is, and the Carrier Dome has hosted countless classic moments as a result. It’s proximity to Onondaga is not to be ignored, either.

Australia

It’s tough to narrow this down to just one city in Australia, with Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide all offering so much for a laxer. The experience will be different in the various cities, but they’re still all great, and we can’t choose just one. The lacrosse communities in Australia are fantastic and will surprise you if you’re not familiar with the sport in the country. A worldwide lacrosse tour would need a stop in at least one of those three Australian cities.

Lake Tahoe

Located in the Sierra Nevada along the Nevada-California border, Lake Tahoe is a quiet town sitting next to the lake that shares its name. More than 75 percent of the lake’s watershed is national forest land, and its physical beauty is internationally renowned. In the winter, skiing and snowboarding are massive in the area, and while those activities aren’t available in the summer, the same feeling and culture are there. And if you’re ever sick of what there is to do outside, you can head inside to enjoy some of the many casinos that line the lakeside.

New Orleans

New Orleans is one of the top destinations cities in America and internationally renowned for fun. Mardi Gras is that on a whole different level. The Mardi Gras Tournament could give you a viable excuse to make the trip down to the Bayou at what some would call the most perfect time of year, not to mention you’ll get some lacrosse action in there. It’s not all about the party, though. Lax gets time, too.

Nantucket

One of the most relaxing spots along the eastern seaboard, Nantucket, Massachusetts, is home to the Nantucket Lacrosse Festival, courtesy of PrimeTime Lacrosse. The single-day event for men and women hosts two divisions of 18+ and 30+ for both styles of play and couples competition with festivity, giving you a full day of lacrosse while celebrating the sport with fellow laxers.

Nantucket offers the unique experience of ferrying in and out of the island and a wonderful opportunity to get away. Hang out at the beach, relax on the deck, explore some incredible history, enjoy the world class seafood, or do it all! That’s why this must make our top 20 lacrosse destinations docket.

Six Nations

You’ve got MSL with the Chiefs, OLA Jr A with the Arrows, with both playing at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA), and more great lacrosse players than you can shake a stick at.

When it comes to lacrosse at Six Nations, it’s not about any one singular event, game or team. It’s not about any particular player, either. It’s a massive hub for the game, and the amount of unbelievable lacrosse that exists there all the time is something to behold. You owe it to yourself to check it out, trust us.

Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

Located in Annapolis, Maryland, Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium has played host to some awesome sports moments, from an outdoor NHL game in 2018 to a handful of soccer matches for the 1984 Summer Olympics to tons of Army-Navy football contests. In lacrosse, though, it has been the home of the Chesapeake Bayhawks since 2009 and includes a robust NCAA Tournament history, from the 2005 Women’s Lacrosse Championship to five NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Quarterfinals.

It also held the 2020 MLL season, which was forced into one location by the pandemic.

Honolulu

You won’t find many more beautiful places to play lacrosse than in the foothills of Diamond Head of the edge of Waikiki. Hawaii is one of the biggest tourist destinations in America, and Honolulu is its largest city – is it any surprise that it would land in the top 20 lacrosse destinations?

If you have the opportunity to play lax on the Hawaiian beach, how are you going to say no?

Cattaraugus Community Center

The CCC is located on the Seneca Nation in Irving, New York, and is home to a couple of the best Seneca Nation teams, not to mention the incredible amount of talent that has come through its doors. Additionally, the CCC sports purple turf, further proving its uniqueness, and is an incredible sports complex overall. If you’re ever in the neighborhood, check it out.

Lake George

Lake George, New York, is a small, quaint town locates at the southeast base of the Adirondack Mountains. The actual lake is situated between the Hudson River and Lake Champlain, one of the many physically incredible spots in the region.

PrimeTime Lacrosse’s Lake George National Invitational gives you a great excuse to enjoy the great outdoors while also enjoying some lacrosse. Divisions are open to boys down to 2030 grad years, up to men 45+, and with a women’s 18+ division. College coaches are always in attendance, and some of the top programs from the Northeast and around the country show up to battle it out in the Adirondacks.

Queens Park Arena

This is a true gem and can’t be left off a list of the top 20 lacrosse destinations. This 3,500-seat arena in New Westminster, British Columbia, was built in 1930 and has hosted loads of hockey and lacrosse. Currently, the New Westminster Salmonbellies of the WLA play there, and hockey is still a constant in the venue.

A wooden floor, a small arena with an ancient feel, all in a huge, old lacrosse town. This must be on any lacrosse bucket list.

Toronto Rock Athletic Centre

If Queens Park Arena represents the old school, the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre represents the modern day. It’s the most luxurious lacrosse facility on earth, making it an easy choice to crack the top 20 lacrosse destinations. The 80,000 square foot climate-controlled arena has two rinks – one concrete, one turf – and many more amenities that put this venue over the top. Both of those are regulation sized, as is the outdoor field that fits NCAA lacrosse and FIFA Level 1 Certification requirements, which hosts lacrosse, soccer, football and ultimate frisbee.

Oh, and it’s where the NLL’s Toronto Rock play their home contests.

Vail

One of the premier places to ski and snowboard in the entire world is also one of the top 20 lacrosse destinations.

Vail is home to some of the most picturesque and unbelievable views in North America, and any trip out at any time of the year will yield you incredible outdoor opportunities. Whether it’s winter sports during that time of the year, hiking, fishing and camping in the summer or anything in between in spring or fall, it’s a nature lover’s dream, especially if you’re one for resorts.

Berlin

This is a true hub for German lacrosse, which has been growing steadily over the last 10 years. The Berlin Open, a great field lacrosse tournament, is held here, and there is a ton of men’s and women’s club ball in the area all year round, too.

Outside of lacrosse, Berlin is also an incredible city with an incredible history and wealth of experiences. If you’re a history buff, you won’t want to leave. If you enjoy the party, Berlin has that for you, too. Berlin is truly an international city that you should angle a trip to regardless of lacrosse, but the lax makes it that much better.

Homewood Field

Johns Hopkins is lacrosse royalty. The number of legends who have passed through that program are endless, and its importance in the greater zeitgeist of lacrosse is massive. It would only be natural for Homewood Field, the home for Hopkins, to be one of the top 20 lacrosse destinations in the world, especially if you add in the NCAA Tournament games and MLL contests it has hosted over the years.

Las Vegas

There isn’t much I need to tell you about Las Vegas that you don’t already know. You are fully aware of what Las Vegas is and what is there. You’re also well informed on what it’s like on the weekend. What you might not know, though, is that the Sin City Box Classic exists. Yes, lacrosse is in Vegas, so it automatically has to be on this list, right?

Manchester

Manchester is the center of lacrosse in England, and there’s always a ton of lacrosse going on there. The city’s greater arena has hosted the World Lacrosse Championships three times (1978, 1994, 2010), making it one of the most common host sites for the sport’s international tournament. That includes Canada’s 17-16 overtime victory over the United States in 1978, giving the Canadians their first world title and one of three the nation has ever claimed.

If you want to check out one of Europe’s most prominent lacrosse cities, Manchester has to be on that list.

Ocean City

Ocean City is a beach town for college kids to party, serving as a popular destination for Maryland high school seniors and their rowdy Beach Week. Roll that into a lacrosse tournament, and that’s the sort of atmosphere you’ll find yourself in.

The muscles will be off the charts, and you can expect plenty of push-up competitions, some friendlier than others. Feel free to join in, but at your own risk. Don’t humiliate yourself too much.

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You love field lacrosse. It’s the lacrosse you’ve known your whole life, and there’s nothing better than walking out to a fresh field of green in your cleats knowing an intense game is about to begin. So, if you’re already so dedicated to field, why play box lacrosse?

Box and field are both versions of the same game, but those who have played both know there are plenty of differences between the two. From the surface to the speed to the goal size, there are many opposing dynamics in these most popular versions of lacrosse.

But it’s all still lacrosse. Skills can translate, and you can use one to help you get better at the other.

In America, field is generally king, but box is steadily growing on this side of the border. There can be benefits for your field game if you dabble in box, and we’ve put together five ways in which playing the indoor edition of lax can progress you when you step outside onto the grass.

If you’re looking for opportunities to try out the box or put your skills to the test, PrimeTime Lacrosse, a leader in the lacrosse event world, is hosting the Galactic Games at the Seacoast United Indoor Arena in Hampton, New Hampshire, on Jan. 23-24, 2021, offering boys with grad years of 2021-2028 an unforgettable box lacrosse experience.

This is why you should play box lacrosse:

5 Reasons To Play Box Lacrosse

1. Think Faster

When you add up short-time shot clocks, a smaller playing surface, crosschecking, and boards that keep the ball in play, box forces you to think fast. A lot of times, people think this means, “playing fast,” but that’s not always the case.

In a hectic, chaotic environment, you can either find ways to manage it or go with the flow. When you play box lacrosse, it forces you to make that decision over and over and over, and the more you do it, the more the game seems to slow down. The truth is that the game has not gotten any slower – you’ve just learned how to think faster.

2. Limit Selfishness

A dominant field player can do a lot on their own, but it’s a lot harder to do so in box. The defense is so packed in and tight, and goalies are so well padded, that a one-man show is not a very sustainable approach. Sure, you can still “be the man” for your team, but if you’re not using your teammates a lot, you’re going to have a bad time. Through physical double and triple teams, box teaches good players to be great and to share the ball as part of that greatness.

3. Increase Mental Toughness

In field, you’ll see a player miss a shot wide, the ball will go out of bounds, and the player will drop their head in shame or frustration. In box, you simply cannot do this. The ball is probably not going out of bounds. If you miss a shot, you need to stay engaged. The play is not over.

This is true across the board. With play rarely stopping, you need to stay in the game, and this leads to reacting well to mistakes and misses instead of sulking. It’s a great attribute to learn early, and it’s a good reason why you can get better when you play box lacrosse.

4. There’s Nowhere to Hide

As you get better in field and play at a higher level, teams will look for weaker links, then attack. In youth, or even high school field lacrosse, this is not always the case. Weaker players can “hide” out on the field and let the other nine players on the team do the work.

In box, you really can’t hide. Everything is tighter, there is almost constant contact, and with fewer players out there, the chances are the ball is coming to/through you sooner rather than later. You can try to hide in box, but the ball will find you! Short-side field lacrosse also offers this benefit, especially at lower levels of play.

5. Improve Your Stick Skills

Almost every loose ball you pick up will be in traffic. Most passes you catch will be under some pressure. You will get checked, slashed and whacked every time you catch the ball. And again, because the ball doesn’t go out of bounds and there are only five teammates out there, you get a lot of reps at all this stuff. Finishing in tight, throwing accurate passes, being a ground ball machine – all of those skills get honed in a box to a high level!

If you can’t learn the above lessons, you probably won’t be successful inside the boards. The great news is that the skillset transfers really well to field, so if that’s a goal for you, it will all help. If you just want to play box, these skills will be hugely beneficial for the rest of your career, and you don’t need convincing as to why you should play box lacrosse.

After refining your skills in the box, PrimeTime Lacrosse has field events for you to challenge yourself and measure how much your time indoors helped you outdoors. From the Nantucket Lacrosse Festival for adults to a number of youth tournaments, like the Seaside Showdown, PrimeTime Shootout, NH Invitational and Bulldog Brawl. Additionally, the Lake George National Invitational is open to youth and adults, meaning opportunities for a family lacrosse weekend for all.

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Every lacrosse player has his or her quirks. Some size-to-strength to skill-to-speed, everyone plays in a way that feels the most right to them. But at every tournament, you’ll meet similar types of lacrosse players, and it can’t be escaped.

It doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter where you go – whether it’s overseas or across a border for some competition or in upstate New York for PrimeTime Lacrosse’s Lake George National Invitational – these laxers will surround you.

These are the five lacrosse player types you’re guaranteed to find at every lacrosse tournament:

Five Types of Lacrosse Players You’ll Find At Every Tournament

1. True Athletes

Maybe these guys are fresh out of college, or maybe they just stayed in better shape than everyone else over the years. Either way, there are usually one or two guys on every field who stand out athletically. The speed and strength show themselves in college games, but true athletes really shine through in open lacrosse tournaments when they’re facing the weekend warriors.

2. Cagey Veterans

They might not be the fastest or the youngest guys on the field, but they know the game. Don’t sleep on these sneaky players – some you can identify by their CPX Chicago Machine helmets, others you only start to notice after they light up the scoreboard. High skill, casual excellence, and old man knowledge add up to create a formidable gray-haired opponent.

3. Lumberjacks

Lacrosse is lacrosse, and even in the most laid-back tournaments, you’re going to find guys who throw very hard checks and aren’t afraid to lay the body. Don’t take it personally, it’s just who they are, and they’re letting you know they’re there. You can thank them for the awesome bruises you’ll be able to show off the next week or two, and it’ll be even worse if you don’t keep your head on a swivel!

You might not have professionals like these barreling down at you, but there are plenty of amateurs who can pack a punch. Be aware.

4. The Jokers

A smile is always present and silliness abounds, but more often than not, this is just a cover for someone who can really play the game. Think about it: if one guy on the field is laughing maniacally, and everyone else is acting pretty normal, the Joker may know something you don’t. Beware the wild card, as they’ll just as readily make a silly face as they’ll score a silly goal.

5. The Organizers

Every team you see on the field at a lacrosse tournament was organized by someone, typically this player will be a long stick. Don’t ask me why, it’s just the way it goes.

Either way, this player will put the same effort into guarding you as they did organizing their team, and while it won’t be flashy, it will likely be effective. The Organizer may seem way too into it, but they did put in all this effort, so if you think they’re going to take it easy, you’ve got another thing coming!

Opportunities for Adult Players

It can be difficult to get a group of adults together for a lacrosse weekend. Kids, spouses, jobs and responsibilities can make it tough. There might not be a natural-born Organizer in your area to make it easy on you, so you may have to assume that role to bring lacrosse tournaments to you and your friends.

If you’re looking for a chance to travel, enjoy time around friends, have a great time and get some lax in, check out the Nantucket Lacrosse Festival, a one-day men’s and women’s lacrosse tournament in Nantucket, Massachusetts, put on by PrimeTime Lacrosse, with the action set for August 14, 2021.

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Box and field are both lacrosse, but that doesn’t mean they’re carbon copies. There are many rule differences between box and field, and they can fundamentally change how the game is played.

Sure, you’re still throwing a ball into a net with a strung stick, but the movements, the schemes, and the philosophies can all differ widely based on the dynamics the sports’ parameters force, and understanding both is important to becoming a well-rounded lacrosse player.

That’s part of why PrimeTime Lacrosse offers opportunities in box and field lacrosse, including the Galactic Games in Hampton, New Hampshire, which is set to provide boy’s box players with an unforgettable experience in January 2021.

Here is a look at some of the top rule differences between box and field lacrosse.

Major Rule Differences Between Box and Field

Goals and Goalies

Field lacrosse nets are 6-feet by 6-feet, and while the goalies are wearing pads, the padding is minimal and doesn’t make the goalie much bigger of a blocker – throw on a chest pad, helmet, groin protection, gloves, elbows, pick up a stick and prepare to defend 36-square feet of cage.

Box lacrosse nets are much smaller, usually around 4-feet by 4-feet, and the goalies look more like the Michelin Man with large legs pads, thigh pads, a huge chest and arm pad unit, large gloves, and a helmet. Sometimes box goalie sticks are also a lot bigger!

Field of Play

Field lacrosse takes place on a large, standard-sized grass or turf field that’s 100-plus yards long and 50-plus yards wide. There is a ton of space to run. Box lacrosse is played inside hockey rink boards and glass or chain link fencing, and the playing surface can be turf, grass, concrete, or even wood! It’s a lot tighter, and the ball rarely goes out of bounds. Instead, it generally bounces off the boards, allowing play to continue.

Crosschecking

Not all crosschecking is legal in box, and not all crosschecking is illegal in field, but crosschecks are limited to field almost exclusively to on-ball defending. In box, though, you will see offensive players crosscheck their defenders to get free, or you might see two players just crosscheck each other as a little, “hello, how ya doing?” It’s almost constant in box, and the crosschecking rule differences between box and field change the game tremendously for both the O and D. You see a lot more two-man games, more picking, and more contact in general in box.

Offsides

There is no offsides in box, whereas in field there must always be at least seven players on each half of the field. While this doesn’t seem like a huge rule difference between box and field right away, it really affects how the game is played. Transition and breakaways are far more common in box because there is no offsides. An entire half of the floor is occupied by just a goalie, and this makes for a striking difference.

Sticks

Rules now vary between the sports on pockets and head width, and while this all obviously changes both games, we are really only talking about stick length in this section.

In field, defenders can use 6-feet long sticks, while everyone else (expect goalies) uses 40-inch short sticks. In box, everyone is using a short stick, but if you look closer, you’ll see not every short stick is the same. While the shortest are still 40 inches long, defenders can use a slightly longer stick, which can measure up to 46 or 48 inches, depending on the league.

The addition and removal of the true 6-feet long stick makes a big difference in game play, but you will notice that the best defenders in either version of the game are often able to pick up the other-sized defensive stick and still see success. For newer and younger players, the transition from one version of the game to the other can prove to be a challenge but one that ultimately pays dividends with increased skill, understanding and ability.

Opportunities in Box and Field Lacrosse

It can be hard to find ways to get both box and field lacrosse experience, especially if you live in an area dominated heavily by one or neither. PrimeTime Lacrosse hosts events in box and field lacrosse to help foster a worldly lacrosse experience and education. From hosting the Galactic Games to the Lake George National Invitational to sponsoring Penguins Select Lacrosse, PrimeTime focuses on providing children and adults with chances to learn and play the sport they love.

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It can be overwhelming to plan for a lax weekend, especially without experience. That’s why we’ve put together these five important tips for lacrosse weekend warriors that will help you best prepare for what might come your way.

Whether you’re gearing up for the Nantucket Lacrosse Festival or Lake George National Invitational hosted by PrimeTime Lacrosse, a local tournament in your area, or anything in between, you’ll want these tips for your lacrosse weekend.

5 Tips for Lacrosse Weekend Warriors

1. Do Your Research

If you sign up for the wrong league, you might have a bad time. Looking for something serious and competitive? Maybe you want something more relaxed? I’m important to figure that out beforehand!

If you’re throwing haymakers in a men’s Sunday pick-up game, you will get some bad looks. If you’re goofing around too much in a serious club contest, you may not be invited back. Think about what you want to get out of your lacrosse weekend and find the right league for you.

2. Work on Your Flexibility

As you get older and have more real-world responsibilities, finding time to train and hit the gym like you used to can be hard. A very basic strength workout will help, but as you age, it becomes more and more about injury avoidance and prevention, and increased flexibility tends to help with that. Plus, you won’t be as sore on those dreaded Mondays back to work after your rigorous lacrosse weekend, and that’s a bonus.

3. Fix Your Stick Less

You were always tweaking your stick in college, but back then you were picking it up all the time and could make all the adjustments. But now is the time to just find something that is consistent and works, then leave it be. If it’s basic and functional, use it. If the last time you picked up your stick to play was last lacrosse weekend, a reconfigured pocket can be downright dangerous!

4. Be Kind to the Refs

Every single person officiating a club tournament or post-college league could be doing better things with their time. The important days of your career are over, so if you can’t be nice to the refs by now, maybe consider putting down the stick.

Seriously, have fun and be an adult. Enjoy this game as long as you can. Treat the people who let you continue to play with respect. It’ll make your lacrosse weekend – and everyone else’s lacrosse weekend – much, much better.

5. Be Thankful

Due to family, work, injuries, and a host of other reasons, not everyone can be a lacrosse weekend warrior. Be grateful that you can still get to go out and mix it up on the weekends. Be a good person, and make the team or league you’re playing in a better experience for everyone. Even on a rainy or cold day, or in a league that’s “beneath you,” it’s a chance to run. And when you’re even older, you’ll wish you had taken advantage of every chance you got.

No matter if you’re playing overseas, in a local league, at a PrimeTime Lacrosse event or in your backyard with buddies, appreciate every moment you’re afforded with a stick in your grasp.

If you’re interested in other guides like this one to help you get the most out of your lacrosse weekends and lax experiences, you can learn more important information with our tips for running adult lacrosse teams, how to start a box team, and more!

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Building a box goalie can be a tough task if you aren’t well versed in the trade. It’s a different animal from field goalie, and there’s a lot to keep track of when you’re the last line of defense in box lacrosse.

If you’ve never played box goalie before, it can be daunting. What should you expect? How can you get better? Where are your opportunities? There are a number of answers to each of those questions, and we’ll do our best to give them to you with these five steps.

If you’re also looking to put together a box team, we partnered with PrimeTime Lacrosse to bring you the five steps you’ll need to make that happen. Can’t have a box goalie without a box team!

5 Steps to Building a Box Goalie

1. Get Geared Up

It might sound obvious, but this is the first, true step.

For building a box goalie, you’ll need everything it takes. Collect a box lacrosse goal, all the goalie pads, a bag of tennis balls, and a 2.5-foot wide by 3.5-foot tall piece of plywood (you’ll out why later). Learn how to strap all of your equipment on properly (you don’t want any mistakes leading to injury) and mentally prepare yourself to get pelted with lacrosse balls often.

2. Watch Box Lacrosse Games

Playing box goalie is a relatively unique position. You see a ton of shots, defend a small net with huge pads, and yet somehow, the other team almost always still scores a bunch of goals. It’s unlike hockey, soccer, or almost any other sport with a goaltender in this way, so it can be very difficult for a new player to really figure it out. Like with so many other things in life, watch others do, take notes, and follow their footsteps.

If you’re a coach, a great first step is to watch a game with your box goalie first. Let the game play and allow the player to ask questions. Then, watch the same game again, only this time watch the goalies. Do this a couple times, and you and your player will start to see the game and position a little clearer.

3. Break Bad Habits

Defending a box goal is about patience more than anything. A goalie who makes big moves early will often put themselves out of position and allow easy goals. But a patient goalie keeps breathing, doesn’t fall for the fakes, and defends that near-side pipe dearly right up until the last possible second.

Marty O’Neill has an amazing drill with a piece of plywood that teaches this skill fantastically. In fact, all of his drills are fantastic. But this one is truly suburb and hammers home the patience/near pipe idea perfectly.

4. Play a LOT

If there’s a box league in your area, figure out how to join it! This likely entails finding a local club that’s playing real box lacrosse like the Penguins Select Lacrosse Club in New England. Sign up and play as much as you can.

This should be obvious, but it has to be included. The more you play, the more experience you’ll have, and the better equipped you’ll be moving forward. But what if you don’t live near a league? Most people aren’t. The answer to that is simpler than you think.

Play in the side yard or backyard more. Find a 3×3/Speed Lacrosse goal and hop in net. Throw on a helmet and cup, toss out some tennis balls, and let your friends play 2-on-2 as you defend the net. If you do this over and over, when you get back out onto the box floor with all those pads, your form will be solid, you’ll see the game better, and then those big pads can do a lot of the work for you.

Also be sure to check out events offered by PrimeTime Lacrosse, which offers a range of boy’s box lacrosse opportunities on the east coast.

If you’re looking for a box experience in the coming months, don’t miss the Galactic Games in Hampton, New Hampshire, set for January 23-24, 2021.

5. Be an Athlete

You won’t be sprinting up and down the floor a lot as box goalie (unless your team goes into extra-man offense often), but you will be crouching and moving side-to-side in heavy gear for extended periods of time. This can be very hard on your legs and back, so having a strong lower body and core are big advantages. Some great box goalies are bigger guys, while others are skinny like a stick. But the good ones are all strong, agile, and quick like a cat.

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Our partners at PrimeTime Lacrosse in New England just surprised this westerner with something pretty special. They sent me the same care package they’re delivering to college coaches across the country. The creativity is impressive, to say the least.

The contents inside made my day, or should I say “movie night?” It included everything a coach needs to witness the future stars of college lacrosse:

In my mind, this care package has got to be the first of its kind. Plus I’m a huge fan of creativity. So, I reached out to Spencer Low at PrimeTime to find out why they undertook the project.

Our relationships with coaches are paramount to hundreds of aspiring young athletes being discovered and seen. We know families are feeling stressed about the college process and what that will look like with fewer coaches on the sidelines this summer and Fall.  It was important we find a way to honor our commitment to families and clubs to get their players seen, and we knew we would have to get creative to do that and stand out with so much recruiting film going online this summer. Additionally we didn’t want to lose the opportunity of catering to college coaches just because they couldn’t be onsite this summer due to public health restrictions and the extended dead period, so our team, especially our in house brand guru Ian, got creative and put together this care package instead.

Spencer Low, PrimeTime Lacrosse National Events Director

Typically PrimeTime Lacrosse Events will host 50, 100 or more college coaches onsite, according to Low, but this summer was different for obvious reasons. PrimeTime held its recruiting events in New Hampshire and, other than the players and coaches in attendance, only one parent or guardian was allowed on premises per student-athlete. These measures, along with ample hand sanitizer, thorough cleanings and temperature kiosks, helped prevent crowded venues and enable social distancing. All high school games were filmed and full games were made available to all college coaches across the country. 

College coaches love popcorn

Coincidentally, many members of the PrimeTime Lacrosse Events team are also college coaches themselves, so they know ‘a thing or two’ about the recruiting circuit as well. Like, for example, the community feeling and camaraderie that develops among coaches at top events. Each event is equally a chance to prove yourself as a recruiter as it is to share notes and soak up knowledge from coaching peers.

With that element out of the picture this summer, it was a smooth move of PrimeTime to send the popcorns and pints to them! A+ for creativity.

• DVD Case with Film Access Codes
• PrimeTime Popcorn Box
• Act II Popcorn
• Sour Patch Kids
• PrimeTime Pint Glass
• “Blockbuster Card” redeemable for free swag at the next PrimeTime event attended

Game film matters

Putting game film directly in the hands of each coach presents the opportunity for these college coaches to pause, rewind, and ultimately see everything over time – not just one game on one field as if they were there in person. Now every participant at PrimeTime events has a chance to gain exposure. Talent, or who stands out to the coaches on film, will be the true test.

Delivering high-quality experiences

We work hard to make sure coaches look forward to recruiting at PrimeTime Lacrosse events, and wanted this summer to be no exception.

Spencer Low

I’ve been to many lacrosse recruiting events in my day. I’ve been to even more family-friendly lacrosse tournaments and festivals. The keys are creativity and execution, and like I’ve said before, PrimeTime clearly gets it. On the field and off it.

Are you a college coach who didn’t get his box?
Word is a few home addresses are needed! Drop Spencer a line at spencer@primetimelacrosse.com if you’re a men’s college lacrosse coach who hasn’t received it yet. Spencer can also provide the film login so you don’t have to wait for your box to arrive to start recruiting.  

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We recently caught up with our partners at Powell Lacrosse to learn more about what the company has been up to, and the LaxAllStars staff was blown away by the hand crafted sticks Ryan Powell and his team have been releasing in the Powell Woodshop.

Lacrosse players know there’s nothing cooler than getting a custom piece of gear, especially something no one else can ever have. And that’s one of the most exciting things about the Woodshop: everything is unique.

In fact – most of these items are one-of-a-kind. The artists at Powell are meticulous about every detail of each and every stick.

“Everything you see here has been thoughtfully designed, meticulously crafted by hand, and assembled with materials that represent the history, creativity and passion of the game that runs through our blood. The sticks that come out of the woodshop are created for you to display as a unique limited edition show piece just as much as they are intended to be played with and enjoyed on the field, the backyard, or wherever else it takes you.”

Powell Lacrosse

I’ve always looked toward customizing my own stick or purchasing one that is specifically personalized to me – caring about everything, including the strings in the stick, helped me develop a habit of carrying my it with me wherever I went.

There’s just something about that uniqueness that’s always called my name. I think it calls on others, too.

A few of my favorites from the Woodshop

By the way – It’s important for me to note that Ryan Powell owns a piece of Lacrosse All Stars. He has influence over our company’s long-term goals but not our daily editorial strategy. I chose to share this because these hand crafted sticks that Powell is releasing are actually quite inspiring!

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With just two days to go until the first game of the PLL Championship Series, NBC Sports and the PLL today announced production innovations for the two-week, 20-game tournament that will provide lacrosse fans with an unmatched viewing experience.

NBC Sports production innovations:

Player-to-Commentator Communication

Player-to-commentator communication is returning for every game of the PLL Championship Series. Multiple players on the field will be able to instantaneously communicate with the NBC Sports PLL broadcast team of Paul Burmeister (play-by-play), Ryan Boyle (analyst) and Todd Harris (sideline reporter) throughout the game to give viewers unmatched game perspective from an inside source;

Social Media Integrations

During broadcasts, a social media integration tagboard will be featured allowing fans to show how they are engaging with the action on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok;

Sports Betting

PLL game betting lines will be displayed on NBC Sports broadcasts, marking the first-ever outdoor professional lacrosse league to do so;

Unique Camera and Microphone Locations

A number of cameras and microphones will be strategically placed around Zions Bank Stadium to capture amplified and engaging audio during game action, including new microphone locations on goalposts, stadium camera loops featuring 400-plus PLL fan cutouts, locker room access and a minimum of four mic’d up players and coaches per game to provide on-field commentary throughout the games.

The opening game of the PLL Championship Series will feature Matt Rambo and the defending champion Whipsnakes LC against Ryder Garnsey and Redwoods LC in a rematch of the inaugural season Championship on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET on NBC. NBC Sports’ opening day coverage of the tournament continues with the first game on NBCSN when Justin Guterding and Chrome LC face Connor Fields and Chaos LC at 7:30 p.m. ET.

All PLL Championship Series games will be presented live across NBC, NBCSN, or NBC Sports Gold, with all televised games also streaming live on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. NBC Sports Gold – NBC Sports’ direct-to-consumer live streaming product powered by Playmaker Media – will live stream all 20 games commercial-free, with 6 games available exclusively for subscribers. NBC Sports Gold’s Premier Lacrosse League Pass is available now for a price of $19.99.

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This isn’t the story I expected to tell you. I thought I’d be writing about high school club lax. Instead (sorry youngins), I’m about to explain what it was like to meet those actually defining the future of college lacrosse.

Before I get started, however, I wanted to take a little prelude and let you know that I physically got to this event on my own. I drew the following conclusions on my own merit as well.

PrimeTime Lacrosse, a longtime supporter of Lacrosse All Stars and our company’s mission to Grow the Game®, operates the Colonial Clash each year in mid-November at Progin Park in Lancaster, Massachusetts. They’ve been a longtime client of mine, but I’d never been to one of their events in-person until just this past weekend.

It changed my outlook on the future of college lacrosse completely.

First, the staff was helpful inside a venue, unlike anything you’d ever see in the West. I’m an Idaho guy myself, and you just don’t see parks like Progin out there. Second, the professionalism of every college lacrosse coach was apparent and their attention was pointed at the fields. Finally, the overall attitude on site – from the players, coaches, parents, recruiters, and PrimeTime’s staff – wrapped it all up nicely with a bow.

Allow me to explain my stance a little further:

I Saw The Future of College Lacrosse At The Colonial Clash

Staff and Venue

Top recreational parks and stadiums have the prerogative to maintain cleanliness, manage parking, and even provide food. These are things expected by any events company that rents the venue. PrimeTime didn’t just rely on this — they leverage the venue’s services to elevate the athlete experience.

The PrimeTime Lacrosse staff is one of the most elite event production units that I have ever seen in action. Ian, Spencer, Laura, Jack, Matt, Chris and Alex are all a part of the incredible team that PrimeTime employs for their tournaments. Each of them deserves special recognition for the fantastic work that they do.

And, it all starts with the leadership at the top.

Tyler Low has been instrumental in creating the well-oiled machine that is PrimeTime Lacrosse. Being the co-founder of PrimeTime, Tyler is also the head coach of UMass Boston, a Division III school. He hasn’t done it alone, however, as he has had the help of other college coaches in building PrimeTime from the ground up.  A lot of PrimeTime Lacrosse’s staff actually lead collegiate programs and on a daily basis mold the college program and that level of play as a whole. What is most impressive is that they’re selfless. They create a great culture at the places they coach and certainly at PrimeTime’s events. Instead of making the PrimeTime tournaments all about their own respective colleges, they’re opening it up to college programs everywhere, with heavy-hitters like Yale that have been in attendance. They provide great accessibility to high school players, with top-level athletes competing. I’m pretty sure I saw the next Matt Rambo there on Saturday.

Spencer Low — another critical cog of the PrimeTime machine — is the national events director and is responsible for selling for, planning and running all of the events that PrimeTime Lacrosse operates. He is the glue that holds the events together and is deserving of a lot of the credit for PrimeTime’s success.

It’s no surprise that a top-notch leadership team and company staff would be able to handle any obstacles that present itself during an event.

While parking at the event was difficult in terms of the challenge it presented, the staff on-site that was directing everything helped create a venue experience that is worthy of hosting the top players and college coaches in the country as was seen at the Colonial Clash on Saturday.

Professionalism

Want to become a college lacrosse coach? Look no further than how the college coaches at the Colonial Clash represented themselves. This isn’t an ordinary tournament. Coaches actually wake up early to arrive in time and earn their respective university a featured sport on PrimeTime’s recruiting board.

Did I mention that PrimeTime Lacrosse also feeds the college coaches onsite? I always sleep a little easier when I know the next morning I’m going to get handed a sausage, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich. While I love using GrubHub as much as the next guy (seriously, such a great app!), nothing beats being hand-delivered a free breakfast sandwich.

Anyways, back to professionalism — it starts at the top. PrimeTime Lacrosse features an experienced staff who are collegiate coaches themselves. The event was set up to succeed from the start. The manner of the coaches and the tone that the staff had set quickly became adopted by the parents and helped define how the kids would perform. What we saw was all of the coaches were prepared to be there to represent their university to the fullest, while also interacting with other coaches with positivity to the highest degree.

When I spoke with coaches who have won national championships, they said the kids out there were being smart about how they deal with the weather, because it was difficult to find a diamond in the rough. Kids wore warm clothes and were careful to be efficient in their movements in order to capitalize on their moments in front of the coaches from some of the nation’s most respected programs.

If these kids are cognizant of the impact that these college recruiters have, they’re already miles ahead in preparing for college compared to where it was four years ago when I attended another “elite” lax tourney in New England. These kids and coaches are the future of lacrosse in college. Out of the 1,200 kids at the Colonial Clash, every single kid in attendance was of the caliber to be able to play college lacrosse. This is proof that the sport has accelerated in its competitive nature ahead of where the sport was four years ago. This is due to the hard work of many, but really it is because of the incredible attitude that a few visionaries have had in our sport, with PrimeTime Lacrosse being no exception.

Did I mention the confidence and positivity that these college lacrosse coaches exude? It truly sets the tempo for the day. The famous breakfast sandwich from PrimeTime must work as a motivation tool because this attitude I’m describing is unorthodox compared to other college recruiting events I’ve attended across the country over the past ten years.

Some coaches may be young graduate assistants or older volunteers, but it doesn’t matter. Every single one is on a mission to advance his or her career. It all starts with finding the right player who is going to make the biggest impact on your program.

When coaches watch, the kids get nervous. However, it also affects the parents — especially those with time to worry — even more. I can’t even begin to unwrap the in-depth conversations with parent-after-parent who explained to me the six figures they’d already spent on their high school sophomore’s budding lacrosse career.

Lucky for these parents, registering for the Colonial Clash is, in my opinion, one of the best investments in their player’s overall lacrosse experience that they could have made.

The reason?

Because the energy and the tone that I have already mentioned that the staff and visiting coaches set gave those players their best chance to play at their highest level and feel confident in their performance.

Attitude

In sports, attitude is a learned trait that’s ignited from the top-down.

As a seasoned CEO, I’ve had the luxury to come to the understanding of how much my actions and words can affect those around me. This has put me in a position to be incredibly aware of those that I speak with and their emotions, mental state and their ability to make something that is challenging into a positive experience. When I got out to Progin Park, it felt like it was -20 degrees with the wind chill. It wasn’t, but I’m not used to the conditions on the East Coast.

The weather was cold, so every coach was bundled. Those without a packable windbreaker on hand felt it the worst. I don’t know if I am ever going to get used to the freezing cold of November in the Northeast!

That could have been it for me. Instead, Tyler handed me a breakfast sandwich and turned my world around. He then introduced me to Jason Wellemeyer.  Jason Wellemeyer has been an assistant coach at UMass Boston for the past 10 years. He is also the co-owner of PrimeTime Lacrosse and is Tyler’s best friend.

Jason leads by example. To me, that’s always been clear. Meeting him and shaking his hand and watching how he immediately got back to work let me know that PrimeTime has it in gear.

From there I was passed a golf cart — the first time anyone has given me curbside service at any lacrosse event I’ve attended — and I refuse to let it be the last time, either! I honestly think every lacrosse event operator should think deeply about how they represent themselves to college coaches, parents and the media if lacrosse is bound to make the Olympics one day. As a parent or college recruiter, you deserve to turn every corner at a lacrosse event and receive value. Whether it’s watching your child or is another part of the event experience, this is the lacrosse experience that I witnessed at the Colonial Clash that day.

“A” is for attitude, and we all know that. That’s because the folks at PrimeTime don’t sweat the small stuff. Instead, they take care of the little things ahead of time so that they can truly execute their vision. For this, PrimeTime Lacrosse gets an A+.

How Does this Define the Future of College Lacrosse?

I know it sounds like I’m tooting PrimeTime’s horn. I am. I have never seen any other lacrosse company with the level of execution that PrimeTime has. That’s what Tyler and Jason have recognized and what they emulate. That’s the reason why I believe they are the best.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see 30 more lacrosse events with PrimeTime of equal or better quality spread across the nation. Expansion is only inevitable when a company operates this well.

The coolest thing to take away from this recap, in my opinion, is to note that more and more collegiate coaches and aspiring young athletes are going to get higher quality experiences if PrimeTime Lacrosse expands. That can only make a greater impact on the future of college lacrosse than it already has.

<strong>Learn more at <a href=”https://PrimeTimeLacrosse.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>PrimeTimeLacrosse.com</a></strong></h4>

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Can you believe Lacrosse All Stars has already spent ten years in business? Time flies when you’re chasing a dream.

I feel like it was just yesterday when we were on the 12th floor at Avenue C in Stuyvesant Town plotting our first moves. That was 2008 when we pretended it was just a hobby. But then…

2010hit, and Lacrosse All Stars became a legitimate business. Whoa.

We even received a binder with stock certificates to pass out to shareholders once it was an official company.

I was living in Manhattan off of a salary inadequate to meet the needs of even the thriftiest baby-boomer at the time. Connor and I had both just survived the economic collapse by staring it straight in the eye.

It felt totally surreal back then – Starting my own company was not something I expected to do when I grew up.

What I found out very quickly, however, was that starting my own company was actually my life’s purpose.

Growing the game = my cause.

2010 was the year I moved back to where I was born. Idaho. The land of potatoes, cows and privatized freedom no American can deny another one.

Open-carry is a real thing here. So is fly fishing. So is a ten minute commute to the airport with at least a two hour layover anywhere you want to go back East.

My lifestyle changed, but my passion didn’t.

2010 was the year I spent half of my time working from bed. As if starting my own business around it wasn’t enough, I was pointed even further toward the game we all love after being diagnosed with an auto-immune disease.

Lacrosse, the Medicine Game, has been my rock throughout the process of managing my disease – an intense arthritic condition I now consider my greatest quality.

“The Medicine Game,” you ask? “The what?”

That’s exactly what our new “LAXAL” symbol is all about.

Lacrosse is changing now. It has changed continuously throughout history. It is an ever-changing game where rules don’t apply unless you make them.

2010 was the year Ryan Powell called me up after winning Gold. He left me voicemail, saying:

Hey Jeff, I love what you’re doing and I want to get involved. I live in Portland, Oregon, and I heard you’re now based in Boise – would you be interested in meeting up?

There’s nothing quite like receiving a random message from a World Champion. Ryan still sits on the board of directors for our company to this day.

2010 was just the beginning of a long, arduous and heartfelt journey I’ve chosen to continue on ever since. It’s a journey I share with my business partner Connor, my wife Zoe, our editor Matt and our global team.

We’ve witnessed lacrosse history year-after-year and reported on the game constantly. We’ve even created history ourselves through storytelling, reporting and live video coverage.

None of our efforts have been easy, but it’s always worth it and that won’t change.

To tribute ten years in business, we teamed up with Ryan Beckman, a longtime LAS reader and world-renowned graphic designer based in the Los Angeles area. He goes by @RyanTheFoe on social media.

Ryan is someone who has inspired me day-in and day-out since the very beginning – as far back as 2010! I had always wanted to get him involved with Lacrosse All Stars, and celebrating our ten years in business felt like the perfect reason.

Ryan’s clients include some of the most influential brands and club teams in the sport of lacrosse. He even designed many of the PLL t-shirts you’ve seen advertised during the league’s inaugural season.

It was an honor to work on a new LAS apparel line with Ryan. His work is of the utmost quality, so having the highest quality threads to match was a must.

We chose Champion garments for not just the quality factor, but also the brand’s heritage and continual homage it pays to sport in general. Check out the new items and consider making a purchase to support Lacrosse All Stars now:

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Comment below or hit us up on social media with your feedback!

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At the beginning of every lacrosse season, I always watch this short film by Mike Powell. It documents our experience traveling the Pacific Northwest on the Grow The Game Tour in 2012, and watching it always reinforces our purpose.

This journey changed my life and the future of Lacrosse All Stars forever!

Growing the game in Montana:

More about our trip to Montana…

Our third and easily the most impactful stop we made on the Grow The Game Tour, was in Montana. After a quick “break” in Yellowstone National Park, we headed up to Missoula, Montana for the Missoula Elite 100. We had a fully loaded schedule for our three days in Montana, so we went right to work helping out at the ME100 and making the most of our time there.

The growth of lacrosse in Montana speaks for itself – 4,615%. Nope, that wasn’t an error, you read it correctly. Kevin Flynn has been a huge factor in this growth and we felt very privileged to be able to take part in what he has worked to build there.

We were also fortunate to have Matt Gibson (New York Lizards/Minnesota Swarm) with us along the trip, blogging about his travels, check those out here.

Following our stop in Missoula, we headed up to the Flathead Reservation in Ronan, MT and Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, MT to help create some excitement for lacrosse and solidify its place in each community. Call it cliche, but there is something extra special about being able to share lacrosse with the very people whose ancestors brought us this great sport.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our voyage:

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Over the past few weeks, I helped design and develop a brand new website for PrimeTime Lacrosse. This was one of the most focused and fastest web development projects I’ve had the opportunity to execute in my career, and I’m thrilled with how the end product turned out!

The new website provides a complete overview of PrimeTime Lacrosse and its events while delivering a superior user experience on mobile devices. We wanted to make sure it’s super easy and convenient for coaches, players and parents to look up information about PrimeTime events on the fly.

Each specific event page is designed to exemplify the positive event experience. These pages serve as a vital connection point for team or participant registration, recruiting and waiver forms. Plus, we’re also working to build out historical records per event.

Founded in 2010, PrimeTime Lacrosse is based in Massachusetts and runs elite youth and high school lacrosse events throughout North America. As PrimeTime’s media partner, LaxAllStars delivers digital services and marketing to the company year-round.

If you’re a fan of LaxAllStars and the content we create, then you’ll love attending the events organized by PrimeTime, too.

Learn more about the company on its new website, PrimeTimeLacrosse.com, and discover what LaxAllStars can do for your business here.

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We recently helped redesign and relaunch the Lax Federation website into a true networking platform that empower a club lacrosse coach to elevate his or her program. It’s one of the most exciting web development projects I’ve had the opportunity to work on, so I couldn’t be more thankful for the partnership between our organizations.

It turns out the very first event that inspired the “Lax Federation” was the Niagara Lacrosse Invitational, founded by Buffalo Native and Lax Fed founder Michael Wright. Wright envisioned Niagara Falls as the perfect location to bring lacrosse teams together from the United States, Canada, and Six Nations.

The Niagara Invitational is held at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York, each July following a one-day recruiting event with a complementary name – the Niagara Showcase. It’s perfectly timed to fit in-between whatever your team has planned next July and the Lake Placid Summit Classic.

This summer we sent lacrosse pro Bill O’Brien and his media team out to Old Fort Niagara to take in the event and catch all the action. Seventeen lacrosse fields in one gigantic, stunning location. Could it really get any better?!

Check out the Niagara Invitational experience below, and visit LaxFederation.com for everything you want to know about the Lax Federation.

Niagara Invitational Photos

Niagara Invitational Highlights

Learn more about the Lax Federation at LaxFederation.com.

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Lacrosse All Stars is pleased to announce a new multi-year partnership with the Lax Federation, a global networking platform for lacrosse teams.

Designed by Michael Wright (Buffalo Lacrosse Academy, Western NY) and Cory Malampy (Wilmington University, PA), Lax Federation’s all-inclusive annual membership provides teams with a variety of important benefits centered around player education and program sustainability. 

THE LAX FED HAS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE SINCE I WENT TO EUROPE AS A CHILD IN THE LATE 1980S AND WAS EXPOSED TO THE CLUB SOCCER MODEL. WE’RE BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE ORGANIZATION FOR CLUB LACROSSE PROGRAMS AND THEIR FAMILIES THAT OPENS THE DOOR FOR COLLABORATION TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES AND CREATE LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS. TOGETHER WE WIN!

As members of the Lax Federation, coaches and team managers can access practice plans from some of the greatest minds in lacrosse. Parents can sleep soundly knowing coach has all Buddy’s vitals thanks to integration with SafetyTag. Players can soak up lessons from the pros – in person and on-line. Members also claim huge savings on the best lacrosse equipment, uniforms and media services.

In this partnership, one huge responsibility of ours is powering the Lax Federation media presence. In fact, we just finished building the new Lax Fed website! What you see now is only the beginning of our longterm plan to bring teams the best lacrosse-specific access, exposure and services.

We’re pleased to have nearly 20 high caliber lacrosse programs along with some of the best lacrosse brands on board the Lax Federation as we set sail on this journey. Cascade, Blatant, ConnectLax, Epoch Lacrosse and Wood Lax Sticks are all involved – just to name a few other Lax Federation partners. Many will be on site this month at the Lax Fed events in Delaware and New York.

Lacrosse All Stars will be onsite at next week’s Mid-Atlantic Invitational, the Niagara Showcase on July 13, and the Niagara Invitational next weekend. Be sure to stop by the Lax Fed Media area if you’re attending one of these events. We look forward to meeting you and capturing your story on camera!

Learn more at LaxFederation.com

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The best boys and girls club lacrosse teams from the Western region are in Frisco, Texas, this weekend to compete at the 2018 Western Prime. Teams compete on the turf at Ford Center in The Star, training facility of the Dallas Cowboys and home field of the Dallas Rattlers.

Western Prime first started two years ago when Adrenaline moved the All-American Games from California to The Star in Texas. Adrenaline staffers jumped on the opportunity to host the best teams in the best venue.

A venue like The Star called for it. We signed a long lease with the facility because we believe in what we are doing and what these programs are doing to elevate their kids. For us, it was a no-brainer to launch the Western Prime.

– Jono Zissi, Director of the event

Adrenaline is highly selective about which teams it lets into the Western Prime. Each club lacrosse team in attendance, whether from St. Louis, San Francisco or somewhere in between, has earned the right to be there this weekend. Every coach and player has got to be pumped for the experience to play in The Star.

Each team at Western Prime gets the chance to experience pre-game chalk talks with various NCAA coaches on Friday. On Saturday they experience film review sessions and participate in clinics led for the NCAA coaching staff, too.

Current NCAA players Bubba Fairman (Maryland), Justin Anderson (UNC), Cade Van Raaphorst (Duke) and Tucker Dordevic (Syracuse) are all making the trip to Dallas, too – They’re all West Coast Starz alumni working for Adrenaline, and they’re chomping at the bit to “guest coach” for the Western Prime clubs in attendance.

It’s hot in Texas, so playing outdoors isn’t ideal. Luckily there’s The Star, which looks like the nicest “lacrosse stadium” I’ve ever seen! These lacrosse teams are insanely lucky to have the chance to play in such an world-class facility.

With the Western Prime, we want to provide the best experience possible to the best players from the best programs. One of the most important components is empowering these players from the West to showcase their skills in front of NCAA coaches. To see it all come together the past couple of years is a dream come true.

I’m thankful that programs trust us to give their players this awesome experience – it’s a really fulfilling feeling to be involved with this as it’s a huge passion play for our company. When you put passion into something it ends of being really special.

– Alex Cade, Adrenaline CEO

Lacrosse All Stars is pleased to be partnered with Adrenaline Lacrosse for the 2018 Western Prime. We’ll be live-streaming each division’s championship right here on LaxAllStars, on our YouTube Channel, Twitter, and Facebook this Sunday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM Central Time.

Lacrosse Teams Competing at Western Prime

College Recruiters On-Site at Western Prime

Men’s Programs

Women’s Programs

2017 Western Prime Highlights

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Nine years ago West Coast lacrosse players rarely got invited to showcases back East. The talent and athleticism may have been there, but the invites weren’t. Jono Zissi and other Western region coaches wanted to honor the players who deserved recognition, and the Adrenaline All-American Games were born.

None of the players from Torrey Pines, the high school team I coach, ever got a look. We knew we needed to do something to pave a way for them.

– Jono Zissi, Adrenaline Recruiting Director

Eight years ago, the first Adrenaline All-American Game was played in front of a small crowd at Rancho Bernardo High School in San Diego. The turf was hot. There was swag, but of a different kind. Gear wasn’t nearly as shiny and “advanced” as it is today.

When we first launched Adrenaline in 2001, the goal was never to make money. It’s about empowering the player. We started the Adrenaline All-American Games because we felt like the players deserved it, and an event like this was missing. It’s true to our mission of empowering lacrosse players and making them into the best people they can be.

– Alex Cade, Adrenaline CEO

A lot has evolved between then and now, but the event’s best qualities remain consistent. The best players, the best coaches and the best style West of the Mississippi are always showcased in one intimate, all-inclusive setting.

This time around The Star, a 91-acre campus that hosts the Dallas Cowboys’ world headquarters, is set to shine brightly with lacrosse all weekend long in tandem with Western Prime. For the second straight year, hundreds of avid high school lacrosse players and their families have arrived in Frisco, Texas, to take part in a world-class experience.

The Adrenaline All-American rosters include thirty-nine girls and fifty-five boys lacrosse players from the Western region of the United States who are all headed to play college ball next year. Every athlete, from Washington to Texas, earned his/her respective spot through hard work and commitment to the craft. Many also have roots with the club programs attending Western Prime – maybe even a sibling or two playing in it.

Zissi remarks:

Many of these kids have played together on-and-off their whole life and this is really the last run they’ll get as teammates. It’s really special to reward them in a setting like The Star. The event as a whole kind of has a graduation feel.

Cade adds:

It’s honestly an honor for us to be able to dedicate our resources to paying tribute to these players, and I am thankful the event has garnered so much media attention over the years. The more eyes on these kids the better, they deserve it!

A handful of well-known current NCAA lacrosse stars are also returning to their roots this weekend to join Zissi, Cade, and the rest of the Adrenaline staff in giving back. West Coast Starz and All-American Game alumni Bubba Fairman (Maryland), Justin Anderson (UNC), Tucker Dordevic (Syracuse), and Cade Van Raaphorst (Duke) are onsite and each assigned to assistant coach an All-American team. These guys are dedicated to showing each All-American the Adrenaline treatment.

Friday – Adrenaline Treatment

The Boys and Girls All-Americans arrive for check-in on Friday morning. They’ll check out the locker rooms (which look insane), plus families and players get to go on an entire facilities tour of Cowboys World Headquarters.

The All-American athletes receive new Adrenaline Lacrosse gear no one has ever seen before and attend a special banquet to celebrate with each other on Friday evening.

Each year Adrenaline aligns a guest speaker to share wisdom with the All-Americans at the banquet. It’s rarely a lacrosse player and always someone who will inspire. This year’s speaker is Jacob Schick, a former American sniper.

Jacob Schick is founder and CEO of 22KILL, an organization on mission to raise awareness for suicide prevention. A third generation Marine who epitomizes service and sacrifice, Schick was injured in battle in 2004. He has become widely known for speaking first-hand about his experiences and using his wisdom to maximize the potential in people from all walks of life.

Following the banquet, the rest of the night is likely dedicated to texting significant others and team bonding at the hotel. Obviously that means Fortnite and then straight to bed to rest up for the big show.

Saturday – The Big Show

Saturday goes by fast, so if you’re a player reading this, remember: it’s important to live in the moment. This could turn out being one of the most memorable days of your life.

The All-American squads come together at the Ford Center Locker Rooms in the morning. They gel quickly and rise to the occasion, striving for a North or South victory.

This year the games take place back-to-back beginning at 12:00PM CT, and Western Prime takes a pause so everyone at The Star can watch the big show. My favorite part is that parents get the best seats in the house: sideline chairs.

• 12:00PM CT – Boys All-America Game
• 2:00PM CT – Girls All-America Game

LaxAllStars is pleased to have one of our very own commentate the Adrenaline All-American Games in addition to our team’s role streaming the Western Prime Championships. Lauren Lea, a new addition to LaxAllStars, joins West Coast Starz director Jono Zissi and Matt Kinnear from Inside Lacrosse on the call during both All-American Games

Lauren is currently a midfielder for the Philadelphia Fire in the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League, and we couldn’t be more excited to have her player perspective on board!

Each game airs on TLN.

Boys Adrenaline All-American Rosters

Players to watch: Isaiah Dawson (Harvard), Quentin Buchman (Notre Dame), Evan Egan (North Carlina), Drew Erickson (Denver), Justin Cheng (Notre Dame)

North

North Coaches:

• Gary Campo – Palo Verde HS Head Coach, Vegas Starz Director
• Bubba Fairman – University of Maryland, Starting Midfielder, Big 10 Rookie of the Week, WCS & Adrln AA alum
• Tucker Dordevic – Syracuse University, ACC Rookie of the Week 2X, WCS & Adrln AA alum

South

South Coaches:

• Jason Gildea – Roanoke College, Chaos Director
• Jason Griggs – Coronado HS (NV) Head Coach, Movin’ Up Director
• Cade Van Raaphorst – Duke University, 2X All American, 3 year starter, 2018 Final 4/ WCS & AA game alum

Girls Adrenaline All-American Rosters

North

North Coaches:

• Lyndsey Gillis- Bowdoin College, Mercer Island Director/Coach, Seattle Starz Director
• Kassandra Lemons- St. Mary’s College (CA), Park City HS Coach, West Coast Starz Coach

South

South Coaches:

• Molly Ford – Georgetown University, US Team Member ’11-’14, The Hockaday School HC/Director, GRIT Program Director
• Alyssa Murray – Syracuse University, UWLX Philly Force, Team USA ’14- Present, Vandegrift HS Director/Coach, Iron Horse Girls Director

2017 Adrenaline All-American Game Highlights

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As a senior captain at University of Southern California this season, Lydia Sutton preferred pregame tunes that got the team unified. Music with positive vibes and heavy enough beats to get dance parties going. “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus happened to be a USC locker room favorite throughout college.

She explains:

It’s just one of those songs you can put on in the locker room that gets everyone going.

Sutton, now a USC graduate playing her rookie season in the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League, prides herself on being a communicator. But like anyone, she admits that wasn’t always the case. She credits the USC women’s lacrosse program for helping her grow into being a leader. She even served as team captain during the 2018 season.

Lydia Sutton grew up in Minnesota, attended the Blake School and planned on playing soccer in college. However, it was the promise of creating new traditions in lacrosse that lured her to Los Angeles. She just finished up an incredible defensive career for the Trojans.

1v1 with Lydia Sutton, Upstate Pride (USC ’18)

LAS: How did you get introduced to lacrosse? 

Lydia Sutton: I wanted to do everything my brother did, so of course I got interested immediately when he started playing lacrosse. He didn’t know there was a difference between girls and guys lacrosse, and the first stick he bought was a girls! I quickly inherited the stick, and that’s when it all started.

I started participating in leagues here and there, but it was nothing serious. Then my soon-to-be best friend, Anne Slusser, who played at Duke, moved to town from New Jersey and everything changed.

Anne’s family pretty much put lacrosse on the map here in Minnesota. They started a club program and things started growing rapidly.

Why did you choose to pursue lacrosse in college?

My whole life I thought I’d be a college soccer player. I was really into the game my whole life, and soccer was my favorite sport. Then I was contacted by a recruiter for lacrosse during my sophomore year of high school. At that point, I took a step back and took some time to reflect. I realized lacrosse was actually the sport I wanted to play in college, and I wanted to play it at the highest level possible.

I actually looked at a lot of other major lacrosse schools, and USC wasn’t really on my radar. But on my first visit, I was like, “okay, this place is serious about women’s lacrosse, and I’m serious about them.” Then I made a second visit and committed on the spot September 1st of my junior year.

I think I chose to play lacrosse in college because it’s so much of a team sport yet there’s also a ton of individual technical skill that an athlete is required to have. You never get bored. I was also really inspired to help USC build its brand new program.

What’s your favorite aspect of playing defense? Why did you choose the position?

For me, my favorite thing about defense is pushing people around and having it be legal. I love being able to take control of a game by being the first on the ball. I’ve always felt more confident as a defender. It was my time to shine.

How would you describe your experience at USC?

When I was looking at USC, it wasn’t even a program yet. I realized I would like to be part of a program that I could help build the history at versus being the part of old traditions. We had zero tradition, and had to create our own from day one.

Even if I’d had a career changing injury, I would’ve still gone to school at USC and loved it there.

What’s one thing you’ll miss about off campus life?

Gussie was my roommate freshman year, then we lived together again during our junior and senior years. I lived with her and another teammate, and we shared the place with two other roommates who didn’t play lacrosse, and it was kind of nice. I feel like it’s important to have a getaway when you’re putting so much time into lacrosse, and where we lived gave us that. I loved having Gussie as a roommate because we’re so similar in what we believe and what we like about lacrosse.

What was your favorite academic experience in college?

During my last semester, I took a psych class with one of my favorite professors. It was called “Intelligence, Creativity and Problem Solving.” We’d literally discuss theories of intelligence, and there were no right or wrong answers. Our class served as guinea pigs for him to design a new course, and it was the most fascinating class that I ever took.

What will you miss most about playing lacrosse at USC?

It might sound corny, but honesty, the Trojan family. I didn’t really realize it until my senior year, but the USC community has always got your back. We’re one giant family, even outside of athletics, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it.

I’ll also miss Spitz, a Mediterranean wraps and salad place in Little Toyko that we’d go out of our way to go to any day of the week!

How did playing NCAA DI lacrosse prepare you to compete at the pro level?

I think the last 3 years of college really set the tempo for me as a communicator. The first year of college was a little difficult – I think it is for everyone. The whole spectrum really opened up for me once I learned how to effectively communicate with my coaches and teammates. We’ll be friends for life. Even though we’re out of season and I’m graduated, I’m still texting with my coaches all the time.

What words of wisdom do you have for other young players looking to follow in your footsteps?

I was considered late for my commitment, but I still felt like it was an early decision for me. Nobody knows what they want when they are young – don’t expect that you should be any different!

Take your time. Weigh out every pro and con. Don’t fall into the stereotypes or stigmas surrounding the game. Disregard what other people might think. Listen to your heart.

What’s it like to play pro women’s lacrosse?

I love it! The lacrosse, the talent and athleticism on the field, is uncanny. I’m really excited to see how the league grows and to be a part of it.

Where do you see lacrosse 5 years from now?

I’m hoping lacrosse gets in the olympics, but regardless I just think it’s going to get much bigger. In a couple of years, I hope the women’s game is in a similar spot to where the men’s is now. More fans, more people coming to games, more growth in nontraditional areas – these are all good things!

Thank you for your time, Lydia Sutton! Keep growing the game!

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For the sixth year in a row, many of America’s best clubs will come together to battle it out for the Adrenaline Platinum Cup this weekend in Delaware. The first whistle is Saturday morning at DE Turf Sports Complex following Friday’s recruiting event.

Platinum Cup is an invitation-only, championship-style tournament that features six divisions of boys lacrosse clubs from across the country.

Each squad is affiliated with a top club organization. Some of the most prestigious programs attending include Team 91, NJ Riot, Texas Mustangs and Denver Elite – just to name a few. Teams that win the Platinum Cup in the younger divisions (12U-14U) will earn their bid to the US Lacrosse National Championship.

Adrenaline designed the Platinum Cup to be an intense, community-driven experience that brings the America’s best clubs together in one place. This notion, combined with the facilities, has had recruiters and participating clubs alike returning for years. To put it bluntly, the event is made to stick.

Our team works tirelessly to ensure that this is truly a top notch event and experience for everyone involved. I commend our team for once again assembling the very best programs from every pocket of lacrosse in the country for this great event.

– Alex Cade, CEO of Adrenaline

According to Cade, clubs are injected into an environment in which they must be at their best. Every player and coach knows there are over one hundred NCAA Division I, II and III coaches surrounding them.

Meanwhile every college coach is there with a purpose: out-recruiting every other scout in attendance. They’ve got hardware to take from Wesleyan, Merrimack, or Yale next season, and they’re hopeful America’s best clubs can help them achieve it.

LaxAllStars is on site at the Platinum Cup throughout the weekend. We’re looking forward to taking it all in, and then sharing stories about our experience.

America’s best clubs participating this weekend:

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